Russia or West: Armenia on verge of deep confrontation

[Yaroslav]

http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus...a/2272010.html



By Jamila Babayeva

Anti-Russia spirits have intensified in Armenia over the past few months, because it doesn't seem as if Yerevan's strong pro-Russia foreign policy can work in the interests of certain groups in the society.

A decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union has given a new impetus to the anti-Kremlin mood amid strong protests against the Armenian authorities' pro-Russia policy.
This priority led the government to cancel an earlier decision to sign the Association Agreement with the EU in November 2013. The EU expressed regret over Armenia's decision, which has strained relations between the sides.

Yerevan will witness the next anti-Russian protests on May 18. The initiative group "We are against the Customs Union with Russia" announced holding a rally in the Freedom Square. The group intends to support "No Putinism" protest actions, which will be held in large Russian cities on the same day.

The Armenian protesters plan to rally in front of the Russian embassy in Armenia to protest the Kremlin's "inhuman and occupation policy".

The rally is expected to continue in front of the Presidential residence.
Armenian opposition's anti-Russian initiatives and pro-Western rallies will acquire new speed in the near future, a Turkish expert predicts.

"The Armenian people associate Azerbaijan's and Georgia's development with their ties to the West," Turkish expert Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu told AzerNews. "Georgia's development has given rise to many questions in the Armenian society about their complicated situation. The Armenians hold a positive attitude toward the EU, but Yerevan is far away from the West due to the threat created by the authoritarian regime."

He predicts a rise in the anti-Russian mood and new developments in Armenia under the new PM.

"The authorities who obey Russia will probably remove the West's supporters from the government. Pro-Western Armenian opposition in turn will increase its efforts to mobilize people who share their views," he said.

The expert believes that distrust of Moscow reigns among Armenian people. "The country has not benefited from Russia in any way since its independence," he said.

Oztarsu believes that Russia has not taken any step to benefit Armenia so far. Armenia is blocked in the region and does not have the support of its neighboring countries, he added. Azernews

[Musso]

I wouldn't trust Azeri news to give an objective view of Armenia.

[Yaroslav]

I wouldn't trust Azeri news to give an objective view of Armenia.

What do you think? Will there be a Maidan in Armenia?

[Armenian Bishop]

I wouldn't trust Azeri news to give an objective view of Armenia.

I agree with Musso: We shouldn't trust Azeri news media sources, they are rabidly Anti-Armenian, and poisoned with hatred against the people of Armenia.

From the Armenian perspective, in the Armenian Diaspora, it is generally agreed that Serge Sarkisian made the correct decision, when he deliberately turned away from the EU invitation, and instead aligned Armenia with Russia's Custom Union.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia–Russia_relations

After having been faced with the choice of becoming a member of the Russia-led Customs Union or signing the Association Agreement with the European Union, Armenia chose the first option. The decision on Armenia's joining the Customs Union was announced by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on 03 September 2013.

On 02 December 2013 Vladimir Putin arrived to Armenia on an official visit with an unprecedentedly large delegation. The heads of the two states discussed Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and signed 12 agreements on enhancing cooperation in a number of key spheres such as security, economy, energy and others. Russia also reduced the gas price for Armenia from 270 to 189 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters and enlarged the existing Russian military bases in Armenia.

[Musso]

What do you think? Will there be a Maidan in Armenia?

Honestly, I don't think so. The Armenian population is pretty pro-Russian. We trust Russia and many Armenians have relatives in Russia that send back money. We are not as pro-European as Georgia or Western Ukraine. Given our bad relations with Turkey/Azerbaijan, we see Russia as the country that helps us in this geopolitical wedge. When Armenia made the decision to join the Russian Customs Union, few people complained, protests were very minimal, and in all everyone understood that it was done out of geopolitical necessity. It is said, that Azerbaijan was preparing to attack in order to try to re-take Karabakh, and by joining the Customs Union, Armenia received strong security and weapon assurances that thwarted such an attack.

[Óttar]

I don't know too much about this, but I think Armenia allying with Russia would be pretty natural considering their attitude towards Turkey among other things.

[Musso]

I don't know too much about this, but I think Armenia allying with Russia would be pretty natural considering their attitude towards Turkey among other things.

Yes and our conflict with Azerbaijan. Also in Russia there are several million Armenians that are deeply connected with Armenians of Armenia. Our strategic ties are deeply integrated with Russia, so when Russia put an ultimatum in front of us, we chose security over all. The EU was not ready to provide the amount of security and military support that Moscow gives us. This was a major factor. Our deep ties with Russia are due to our difficult geopolitical position. Simple as that. We have little luxury to reject Moscow and pick EU instead.

[Óttar]

Yes and our conflict with Azerbaijan. Also in Russia there are several million Armenians that are deeply connected with Armenians of Armenia. Our strategic ties are deeply integrated with Russia, so when Russia put an ultimatum in front of us, we chose security over all. The EU was not ready to provide the amount of security and military support that Moscow gives us. This was a major factor. Our deep ties with Russia are due to our difficult geopolitical position. Simple as that. We have little luxury to reject Moscow and pick EU instead.

Does Orthodoxy have nothing to do with it? I know you guys aren't in communion or whatever, but you are still predominantly Orthodox, no?

[Musso]

Does Orthodoxy have nothing to do with it? I know you guys aren't in communion or whatever, but you are still predominantly Orthodox, no?

Sure, but it's not a determining factor. Georgia's Church is in communion with the Russian Orthodox Church, yet their relations are bad.